NATO SYG-DESIGNATE EAGER TO BEGIN NEEDED REFORMS

S E C R E T COPENHAGEN 000206

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS DA
SUBJECT: NATO SYG-DESIGNATE EAGER TO BEGIN NEEDED REFORMS

Classified By: Charge Terence McCulley, reasons 1.4b,d

1.(C) Summary: In a two-hour working luncheon April 30 with
visiting U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker, former Danish
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen underscored his
determination to reform the NATO Alliance as its next
Secretary General and transform it into a more dynamic and
effective organization. Rasmussen reviewed his thinking on
the new Strategic Concept, headquarters reform and staffing,
early implementation of Strasbourg Summit decisions and
efforts to strengthen NATO's public diplomacy. Ambassador
Volker indicated full U.S. support for aggressive reform,
urging the SYG-designate to be bold in his approach.
Rasmussen emphasized the need for confirmation of greater SYG
control over resources and staff in order to effect such
reforms. With Rasmussen and separately with Danish
officials, Ambassador Volker reviewed Turkish concerns about
Rasmussen's appointment. End summary.


2. (C) NATO Secretary General-designate Rasmussen conveyed
his appreciation to President Obama and General Jones for
U.S. support of his candidacy, acknowledging its challenges
but also emphasizing his personal dedication to the
transatlantic relationship. Rasmussen signaled that he is
already at work on his transition, with a small office at the
Danish MFA and ongoing informal consultations (including with
current Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on May 4).
Throughout the conversation, Rasmussen made clear that he is
keen to get to work and that he intends to move decisively to
reinvigorate NATO.


3. (C) Rasmussen indicated that he had given considerable
thought to the process for the new Strategic Concept, but
remained uncertain about how to proceed, especially in this
transition period. He told Ambassador Volker that he thought
the experts group should be about 10-12 members, but
acknowledged that getting the composition right would be
challenging (Rasmussen said that he had already been besieged
with proposed candidates). Ambassador Volker urged Rasmussen
to act on his instincts to move quickly and to work with Jaap
to establish the experts group now, to allow for
participation in seminars and discussions from June onwards.
The U.S. favors an ambitious Strategic Concept, for which it
will take time to build consensus, Ambassador Volker noted;
this argues for getting started as quickly as possible.
Rasmussen indicated that he would raise this with Jaap the
following week and would be prepared to discuss the Strategic
Concept further with General Jones at the end of May in
Washington.


4. (S/NF) Current Danish Ambassador to Turkey Jesper Vahr, a
previous MFA security policy head with NATO experience, will
head the Private Office, Rasmussen informed us, suggesting
that Vahr's Turkish connections could also prove helpful in
that role. Ambassador Volker discussed the possibility of
restoring the American deputy director position to its
previous status as senior deputy, and offered to share the
names and biographies of our proposed candidates for that
position. Rasmussen suggested that we do so directly with
Vahr. Ambassador Volker briefed Rasmussen on the
intelligence support we have provided previous Secretaries
General and offered the same for him, which Rasmussen readily
and gratefully accepted.


5. (C) Ambassador Volker explained that the U.S. has become
frustrated with the pace of decision-making and the
inefficiency of discussions within NATO. The Obama
administration will offer its full support for as much reform
as he can manage, Ambassador Volker told Rasmussen, arguing
that the new SYG should break patterns and not simply do
things the way they have always been done in Brussels.
Rasmussen reported that he had reviewed accounts of recent
council meetings and was disappointed to see how much time
and effort were evidently wasted. This has to change, he
agreed. Ambassador Volker reviewed some ideas under
discussion to improve the NAC, including more focused
agendas, assignment of lead speakers and an end to the
practice of everyone speaking in turn for a few minutes each.
The SYG sets the agenda, Ambassador Volker emphasized, and
encouraged Rasmussen to promote active, engaged discussion,
working more as a moderator than as an official who simply
presides over the meetings. Rasmussen indicated that he
intends to do just that, and will think about ways to
implement these changes without causing undue consternation
among some allies.


6. (C) Rasmussen emphasized that his reforms will depend on
securing unfettered authority to reallocate resources and
staff within NATO, and hoped that the June defense
ministerial could confirm this. Ambassador Volker suggested
that some allies might object to this being a defense
ministers' decision alone and that Rasmussen might call on
his former head of government colleagues to ensure that he
gets the authority he needs. Rasmussen also suggested that
he would like to see more ministerials and summits, provided
that he can ensure that they are more efficient and worth the
participants' time. Ambassador Volker commented that one
would be hard pressed to find a more pro-NATO group than the
Obama administration, but he suspected that even the current
Secretaries of State and Defense would need to be convinced
that there had been real changes to warrant more frequent
meetings at that level.


7. (C) Another priority for the next SYG will have to be
strategic communications, Ambassador Volker said, noting that
NATO does a poor job of selling itself even to its own
publics and cannot keep pace with day-to-day developments in
the media. Rasmussen was enthusiastic in his response,
suggesting that this an area in which he also intends to make
a dramatic difference. The NATO Secretary General should be
much more visible, he said, and should take a leading role in
public debate on issues concerning the Alliance. Rasmussen
pointed to Denmark's funding of NATO television as an
indication of his (previous) government's interest in this
regard, and agreed that NATO needs additional staff and
resources devoted to strategic communication.


8. (C) Rasmussen observed that overcoming Turkish opposition
to his appointment had been difficult, but reported that he
had met with Turkish PM Erdogan two days after the NATO
Summit and that there no longer any issues between them.
Ambassador Volker explained that we had heard complaints from
the Turks on a number of issues related to follow-through on
the discussions at Strasbourg, including Roj-TV, NATO ASG and
flag officer positions, and Rasmussen's public remarks in
Istanbul. Rasmussen allowed that he had not been in touch
with Turks recently, but both he and PM national security
advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel (in a separate conversation)
maintained that these issues are being addressed. Ahrenkiel
acknowledged that he should follow up quietly with his
Turkish counterpart.


9. (C) On Roj-TV, both Rasmussen and Ahrenkiel said that
action must remain within law enforcement and intelligence
channels, and welcomed the proposed visit of S/CT officials
to Copenhagen review the case and discuss strategy.
Rasmussen noted that President Obama had indicated to him
clear understanding for Denmark's position that it must
follow its own laws in the matter. Regarding NATO
appointments, the Assistant Secretary General position would
have to wait until Rasmussen is in place, but it could be
helpful if the U.S. were to propose the slot, Rasmussen said.
On the flag officer billet, Ambassador Volker confirmed that
we have already offered the Turks a one-star position through
military channels. Rasmussen noted that his speech at the
Istanbul Alliance of Civilizations event (praised by both the
Turkish MFA spokesman and the Turkish ambassador to NATO) had
been unfortunately cut short by the event organizers and was
never delivered in full.


10. (C) Comment: Former PM Rasmussen's conversation with
Ambassador Volker suggests that we have an energetic,
reform-oriented partner in the next NATO secretary general
and it is important to engage him early in his preparations
to take office. We recommend that in addition to NSA Jones,
Rasmussen also meet with Secretaries Clinton and Gates during
his May 26-27 visit to Washington. These early discussions
in Copenhagen confirm our view that Rasmussen will not
hesitate to use his considerable political skills and stature
as a former head of government to make NATO into a more
efficient, capable and respected organization.


11. (U) This message has been cleared by Ambassador Volker.

MCCULLEY